A personal name can include several elements that identify a person, their descent, family, or ethnic group. The part dedicated to the individual is the first name, which can be simple or compound. On this page, you can explore first names, their meanings, popularity, and distribution.
A first name may consist of a single element or include additional names. Middle names are particularly common in Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, or South Asian communities.
Zoological research shows that some animal species, such as dolphins and parrots, use names. This suggests that humans have been using first names for over a million years, although written records of human history date back only about 5,000 years. The oldest known first name is that of an Egyptian ruler, Serket, dating back 5,200 years.
Today, first names are usually recorded at birth in a civil registry, although they have often been given during religious ceremonies. In primitive societies, first names could change depending on experiences or status within the tribe.
In ancient cultures, first names were given to reflect character traits or qualities, such as 'vigilant boar' or 'beloved.' With the evolution of societies and the standardization of religions and social hierarchies, the trend evolved towards naming individuals after others, often religious or historical figures. The intention was to transfer the person's qualities to the child. It was also common to name children after family members or close friends. However, with the weakening of rigid religious and social structures, the range of names has expanded, along with literacy and access to literature. People began adopting names from other cultures. Increasingly, first names are chosen for their aesthetic appeal rather than their meaning. Today, there is a trend to avoid giving children very popular or celebrity names, promoting a diversity of names that fluctuates with each generation.
The modern era has also seen the emergence of new first names, sometimes spelling variants adapted to a specific culture, combinations of names, the addition of prefixes or suffixes, or names inspired by places or features. Generally, first names are assigned based on gender, although this distinction is less marked in Asia, particularly in the Far East.
